Gear

Adding a trolling motor to a fishing kayak

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“Pretty soon, kayaks will evolve into bass boats,” joked my friend when I introduced him to kayak bass fishing in my pedal-powered boat with a sonar unit. But NuCanoe’s Pursuit model rigged with MotorGuide’s new Xi3 Kayak Bow-Mount Trolling Motor surely supports my pal’s prediction. Jonathan Lake of Allendale, Mich., showed me how his Xi3-powered Pursuit allows him to stand and cast while the motor tracks down a shoreline. Top cruising speed is 4.2 mph. <br><br> <em>All captions: Dave Mull</em>
“Pretty soon, kayaks will evolve into bass boats,” joked my friend when I introduced him to kayak bass fishing in my pedal-powered boat with a sonar unit. But NuCanoe’s Pursuit model rigged with MotorGuide’s new Xi3 Kayak Bow-Mount Trolling Motor surely supports my pal’s prediction. Jonathan Lake of Allendale, Mich., showed me how his Xi3-powered Pursuit allows him to stand and cast while the motor tracks down a shoreline. Top cruising speed is 4.2 mph.

All captions: Dave Mull

Built-in GPS can automatically retrace routes and features “Spot-Lock.” Just push the button on the wireless remote and the motor triangulates with satellites to turn, thrust and compensate for wind and current to stay in the same spot.
Built-in GPS can automatically retrace routes and features “Spot-Lock.” Just push the button on the wireless remote and the motor triangulates with satellites to turn, thrust and compensate for wind and current to stay in the same spot.
The NuCanoe’s flat bow deck easily accommodates the mounting plate. Kayaks with curvy bow decks need a customized, intermediary plate under the mount. Shaving a piece of a thick, plastic cutting board works.
The NuCanoe’s flat bow deck easily accommodates the mounting plate. Kayaks with curvy bow decks need a customized, intermediary plate under the mount. Shaving a piece of a thick, plastic cutting board works.
The motor delivers 55 pounds of thrust and has a 36-inch shaft. With GPS, it retails for $1,199.99. Without GPS, MSRP is $739.99.
The motor delivers 55 pounds of thrust and has a 36-inch shaft. With GPS, it retails for $1,199.99. Without GPS, MSRP is $739.99.
Lake saved weight with a $400 Fly Power lithium-ion battery that weighs 25 pounds — about half the weight of a comparable lead-acid battery. His battery box is on the deck behind him; he ran power wires under the deck to the bow.
Lake saved weight with a $400 Fly Power lithium-ion battery that weighs 25 pounds — about half the weight of a comparable lead-acid battery. His battery box is on the deck behind him; he ran power wires under the deck to the bow.

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